This is the website of the GoldWing Racing project, a team intent on setting the land speed record in the 24 foot long Project GoldWing 1500 Streamliner. There are two things unique about this attempt at setting the land speed record with this vehicle; one is that it is two-wheeled and two is that it will be piloted by a female rider. The team's intent is to exceed 300 miles per hour with this combination. Please Enjoy Your Visit WE HAVE NO PRODUCTS FOR SALE. Opportunity For Women & Men To Be A Part Of The Action! WOMEN MOTORCYCLE DRIVERS WANTED! Women drivers needed to participate in setting Bonneville World Land Speed Records. Fully sponsored; no cost of bike to drivers. Drivers must be physically fit, age 18-25, maximum height of 5'6". Experience in operating a motorcycle is a must. Must help build bike and race team. Must live in the LA, Calif area. MEN AND WOMEN, all can join in, welders. craftsmen, writers, engineers, machinists, engine builders, photographers, PR and marketing directors are welcome. Honor and Recognition with Success. Contact Kenny Lyon 310.637.6094 mornings PST or via email at: kenylyon@projectgoldwing.org Write: Kenny Lyon, PO Box 643, Torrance, California 90508-0643 Personal e-mail: kenylyon@hotmail.com President Kimberly Kelly: kimberlykelly@projectgoldwing.org You are welcome to visit our shop, Please call ahead, 310 637 6094, Hanger H8, Compton Air Port, 901 West Alondra Blvd., Compton, Ca. 90220 |
Kim's Story
How Bonneville compares to The World’s Fastest Indian
It’s finally Friday, and the Bonneville races have officially ended. I’m on a plane back home to USC and I just finished watching The World’s Fastest Indian once again seeing how it measured up to my experience.
My Bonneville Experience
I’m on the starting line about to do a run on a 1949 500cc Vintage Triumph. I can feel my heart pounding through my old mustard Bates leathers while my hands shake as I grasp the clutch. There are people crowded around everywhere I look excitedly waiting for me to take off. The National Geographic camera crew is standing in front of me zooming in the lens to my nervous eyes. I repeat the steps I learned at American Honda school a few months prior in my head: ease off throttle, pull in the clutch, shift, slowly release clutch, accelerate, cruise, repeat.
My mind crosses Burt Munro and how he used to borrow this exact bike from Isky when he was in Los Angeles. But all I can think about is crashing into the wall the last time I sat on the magenta seat of this bike. What will happen this time? Are the bumps in the salt going to throw me off? Will the engine fail? Will I be able to shift with the new clutch and the new awkward positioning of the pegs? My team leader, Kenny Lyon says "kickstand up", I pull in the clutch, and he puts me in first. I signal "two" to Bill Taylor, letting him know that I will be pulling off after the 2 mile marker, and he starts waving me forward. Now my heart is pounding. I try to remember all the quotes I told myself that led me to Bonneville.
I slowly start releasing the clutch waiting for the gears to engage, releasing, waiting, releasing, waiting. Am I in neutral? I’m barely holding on at my fingertips now. One more millimeter, the bike is rolling forward and I’m off the starting line. Driving down the flats, everything’s bumpy, I need to get into second, and I need to adjust my positioning. Ok, where are the pegs? Reach my feet back, lift them higher, alright I reached it. Feel the shifter with my right heel. Got it. Ok, pull in the clutch, kick down with my heel. Let go of the clutch, everything is sputtering, pull back on the throttle, alright, I did it! This feels great. Do it again to third. Clutch, shift, clutch, throttle. I see the 1 mile marker. Should I shift up into high gear before I reach it? Let’s do it, one more time. Now I’m in fourth! I can feel the air blowing all around me. I duck behind the windshield, imitating what I imagine Burt Munro would have done when he was on this motorcycle. Now it’s just about accelerating. I start singing my favorite song in my head motivating me to eliminate any fear and go faster. "Scars heal, glory fades, and all we’re left with are the memories made, Pain hurts, but only for a minute, life is short so go on and live it." The handle bars are vibrating through my fingers damaged from the crash, the gas tank is vibrating on my chest, my knees tucked into the sides can feel the engine heat up, the salt is bouncy, I’m holding on. Accelerate more, you only live once. I look down at my old World War II airplane tachometer displaying "30." This should be around 65 mph. I’m going through the Mile 2, accelerate a little more, see if you can bring it up anymore, 2 º. I did it. I set a record.
I’ve heard some people come to Bonneville all their lives and never set a record. I’m 20 years old, before January ‘06 I had never rode a motorcycle. Since then, I have been on a bike 6 times going a max speed of 30 mph. The last time I rode this Triumph, I crashed into a cement wall, bent the handle bars, broke off the clutch, and rewarded myself with some bloody fingers, scraped up arms, bruised legs and deteriorated confidence. I had just completed a run of 73mph. Probably one of the slowest records to be set at Bonneville, but for me, this was huge.
Bobbie, the other lady rider for Kenny Lyon, and I, went on to set 4 records total during this week before the bikes began giving up due to salt conditions, wear and tear, or just exhaustion. Before I was able to get my D license on the Goldwing, and Bobbie was able to two records of 132 and 140 on this bike.
I need to thank Kenny Lyon for giving me this opportunity. Not many people would have faith in someone with my level of experience.
Kenny is no stranger to Bonneville Salt Flats Racing, he developed and engineered a Twin V 4-cylinder Harley-Davidson motorcycle that ran the salt at 190.360 mph in the mid-1980's.  This project has been recently taken over by Bob Alford of Pro Street Choppers, Inc. in Winter Park Florida and Bob is now developing the Generation III version of this awesome motorcycle. Everything is being re-engineered from the ground up including the frame that is being developed from an exotic metal used on aircraft. The Generation III engine is currently undergoing the design and machining stage and this is one motorcycle that you will want to keep your eyes on. How about a street-ready motorcycle running 250 horsepower and an estimated 300 foot-pounds of torque! All of this in a streetable package that will turn heads as they hear the distinctive Harley engine sound with the addition of two more cylinders.  Bob's currently scheduled to debut the Bonneville Twin V HD Bonneville at Daytona Bike Week in March of 2007. Be sure to keep track of this project at the Pro Street Choppers website (link below) and look for it at Bike Week, you won't be sorry you did. There is more information about the project at Bob's website and the official website of Bike Week in Daytona Beach Florida.
Visit Bob Alford's Pro Street Choppers website : (http://www.prostreetchoppersinc.com) |